<img height="1" width="1" style="display:none" src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=349935452247528&amp;ev=PageView&amp;noscript=1">
Search
word-map-thumb

The Alternative Board Blog

Implementing an Employee Wellness Program Can Boost Retention

Mar. 1, 2023 | Posted by Lee Polevoi

 

Does your organization currently have an employee wellness program in place? If so, it’s a good idea to feature this benefit prominently in your open-jobs listing. These days, many job applicants are drawn to businesses that demonstrate a tangible concern for their team members’ mental and physical health.

If you don’t have such a program in place, you risk losing valued employees (who can find this benefit elsewhere) or failing to draw the interest of the job candidates you most want to attract.

Either way, a strong employee wellness program can boost both your hiring and retention efforts.

To implement an effective wellness program, keep these tips in mind:

 

Understand the specific needs of your workforce.

Want to know what drives the success of a wellness program? Start by inviting input from employees themselves. Put together a short survey and ask for feedback about the types of programs most likely to encourage active participation. Allowing employees to respond to the survey anonymously might produce the most accurate assessment of their needs.

 

Establish wellness desired outcomes.

The success of an employee wellness program depends upon achieving predetermined goals or outcomes. If most of the jobs in your organization entail long stretches of sitting in front of a computer, “creating an on-site fitness center or offering yoga classes is one way to increase movement and encourage exercise,” notes Indeed. If the desired outcome is an improvement in eating habits, support employees’ efforts to eat more “fresh fruit and vegetables or other healthy alternatives [that] promote healthier nutritional habits.”

 

Put together a reasonable budget for the program.

Every corporate initiative entails the use of time and money, in order to succeed. It’s no different with an employee wellness program. Put together a budget that covers expenses for promotional materials, company-sponsored health webinars, administrative tasks, incentives for participation, etc. Understanding the costs involved can lead the way to a more effective use of company resources.

Want additional insight? Download Easy Ways to Improve Your Company Culture

DOWNLOAD

 

Assemble a wellness team.

Depending upon your budget, assembling an employee wellness team can pave the way towards greater buy-in from your workforce. As Trakstar Hire notes, such a team “will likely be led by HR but should also include executives, people from finance and others who are interested in promoting a healthy workplace”. When employees assume responsibility for their own well-being, their colleagues are more likely to get on board with the wellness program.

 

Build in as much flexibility as possible.

Keep in mind, not all employees are alike, nor do they all have the same health concerns. As part of your pre-implementation survey efforts, make sure employees can choose from a range of proposed activities and benefits. This approach “can add breadth and depth to wellness programs and gives you the opportunity to make the greatest impact with the largest number of employees,” notes Forbes.

 

Add a touch of playful competition.

 Many wellness programs include a contest or competition of some kind, which often generates more interest from employees. Who can walk the furthest in a set time-frame? What about a weight loss or exercise challenge?

“Contests always have an added excitement to them,” says Vantage Fit. Playful (and non-mandatory) competition can make wellness activities “more exciting, which attracts attention and initiative.”

 

Roll out the program in a big way.

When the time is right, unveil the new wellness program with all the fanfare you can muster:

  • Announce the new program at an all-staff meeting.
  • Send out a message of support from the CEO or business owner.
  • Play up the new initiative in your employee newsletter.
  • Offer printed materials describing upcoming wellness events.

Not everyone will jump on board right away, but with the right encouragement and support, you’ll likely see greater participation as time goes on.

Want to learn more about motivating employees in this and other corporate programs? Check out our free TAB Boss Webinar, “Employee Motivation That Works.”

 

Read our 19 Reasons You Need a Business Owner Advisory Board

DOWNLOAD

Written by Lee Polevoi

Related posts

What Technology Strategy is Most Effective for Your Remote Team?
May. 31, 2023 | Posted by Lee Polevoi
  If, like many businesses these days, you employ a cadre of remote workers, it’s imperative to do all you can to support their offsite efforts. That means providing the best technology available so...
7 Things Even Your Best Employees Hate
May. 24, 2023 | Posted by The Alternative Board
The employment market has been brutal for most companies and industry at large. While job seekers are certainly also experiencing employment volatility, it still appears that in many ways the...
How Employee Learning and Development Can Boost Retention
May. 17, 2023 | Posted by Lee Polevoi
    The ideal employee is an individual who works hard, acts on their own initiative, seeks to be a high-quality team player, and wishes to grow in their career. If you have employees who fit this...
When Is It Time To Fire an Employee?
May. 10, 2023 | Posted by The Alternative Board
Terminating an employee is never fun. Even for the most polished and seasoned business owner, the process of letting someone go is almost universally stressful, unpleasant and emotionally...
How to Tackle Skills Gaps in the Workplace
May. 3, 2023 | Posted by Lee Polevoi
  Finding the right candidates for your open positions is hard enough, given current labor conditions. The challenge becomes more pressing when you hire a talented individual, only to find out they...
Workplace Collaboration: A Secret to Success
Apr. 26, 2023 | Posted by The Alternative Board
Collaboration. It seems like such an easy concept to grasp and embrace, particularly as it pertains to the teamwork required to run and grow a successful company. But then why do so many so many...
How Leaders Can Boost Employee Engagement and Productivity
Apr. 19, 2023 | Posted by Lee Polevoi
  These days, business leaders are more focused than ever on finding ways to promote employee engagement and productivity. Although circumstances differ from one business to another, certain key...
7 Ways To Create a Culture of Engagement in Your Business
Apr. 12, 2023 | Posted by The Alternative Board
It’s no big surprise that employee engagement is critical to the productivity and long-term success of your business. What might be shocking though is how often engagement is overlooked even by those...
Creative Engagement Strategies Can Lead to Stronger Retention
Apr. 5, 2023 | Posted by Lee Polevoi
Why do some employees stay with your company and others leave? There are several possible reasons, including financial considerations and the physical location of your workplace. But above all else,...
5 Ways to Improve the Health of Your Employees
Mar. 29, 2023 | Posted by Lee Polevoi
If there was ever any question about the importance of employee health and well-being, it must be clear by now that all employers should rank this among their top corporate priorities. Why? Your...